Fig. 1

The microscopic observations of the differentiation processes of axillary buds. (a) Axillary buds during the bract differentiation stage. (b) Bract differentiation stage (The prophyll is 6–10 mm long). (c) Bract differentiation stage (The first leaf is 4–7 mm long). (d) Bract differentiation stage (The second leaf is 1–2 mm long). (e) Bract differentiation stage (the third leaf is 0.2–0.5 mm long). (f) Bract differentiation stage (The first bract is 0.1–0.2 mm long). (g) Primary branch differentiation (0.1–0.5 mm, the prophyll is 20–30 mm long). (h) Secondary branch differentiation (0.5–1.2 mm, the prophyll is 40–60 mm long). (i) Spikelet differentiation (1.0–2.5 mm). (j) Closeup of spikelet differentiation. (k) The initial stage of pistil and stamen differentiation (3–5 mm). (l) The late stage of pistil and stamen differentiation (10 mm)